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March 2014

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  • Michael & Son Cares Program

The History of the Cares Program

March 28, 2014
Michael & Son
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Michael & Son Services continues to give back to the community through its “Michael & Son Cares Program”. In the last few months we have received hundred of applications from people all over VA, MD and DC who are in need of assistance with essential home repairs they can not afford. The popularity of the TV show “Helping Hands”, coupled with the harsh economic climate, has applications pouring in every week. While Michael & Son would like to assist each and every family who reaches out to us, we cannot. Instead we can try to influence and inspire other businesses to do the same. At Michael & Son, we believe it is the responsibility of businesses to help people in the community during their time of need. Much like a politician must serve the constituents in his/her community, a business is obligated to do the same for those that keep their doors open.

While nearly all businesses, small and large, make some sort of contributions to charitable organizations, Michael & Son prefers to be more hands on. Being able to meet the families, see their homes and hear their stories makes for a very rewarding experience. While Michael & Son makes many contributions to charitable organizations, the one on one experience of the Cares Program has proven to be the most rewarding. The smiles on the faces of our Cares Recipientsare far more valuable than any award or citation we could receive.

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The popularity of the TV show “Helping Hands”, coupled with the harsh economic climate, has applications pouring in every week.

The Cares Program is an extension of the Michael & Son philosophy. Community service is simply part of our culture as a company. While in the early days of Michael & Son there was no Program designated for community service, the company was always willing to lend a Helping Hand. The beginning of the Cares Program may have dated back to the early 1990’s when a young Basim Mansour (Proud Son and Owner of Michael & Son) was on a call to a home with no power. When Basim arrived he found a small, cramped one level home inhabited by young children and the elderly. It was the dead of winter and the family sat huddled around a rickety space heater. One look at the panel box and Basim knew he was dealing with a very involved and costly job. He also knew that the cost would be well beyond the families means. After speaking with the homeowner, Basim’s instincts proved to be accurate. The family would not be able to afford the work, let alone the small, nominal dispatch fee.

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“That moment was one of the most uplifting experiences of my life; ever since then I’ve been chasing that feeling”.

Basim knew he could not leave the family without power and heat but he also knew Michael & Son (at the time) was in no position to be working pro-bono. Basim decided to seek advice from the one man he could always turn to for advice, his late father, Mike. After explaining the situation to his father, he received the advice that he had been waiting to hear. “There is no question about it, make sure the family has heat and power before you leave tonight. It’s our obligation to give back to the community, where would we be without them?” said Basim’s father. Following the phone call, Basim would proceed to work through the night repairing the family’s electrical problem. “When I flipped the switch and the heat kicked on, the faces of the children lit up with joy and their mother began to cry” said Mansour. “That moment was one of the most uplifting experiences of my life; ever since then I’ve been chasing that feeling”.

 

At Michael & Son, service goes beyond turning a wrench or snaking a drain. It means being woven into the fabric of the community and making a difference every chance we get. We hope that through the work we do, others will be inspired to reach out to those in need. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please contact us through our Facebook page or just give us a call. You can see the Cares Program in action by watching Helping Hands on NBC4. Also, like us on Facebook, follow us onTwitter and subscribe to our YouTube page and find out about special events, great savings and much more!

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Ayden the Angel

March 17, 2014
Michael & Son
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 SHOW TIMES:

WRC-NBC4 (Washington DC) Saturday 3/22 @ 10:00am

WTVR-CBS6 (Richmond) Sunday 3/23 @ 11:35pm

WVIR-NBC29 (Charlottesville) Sunday 3/23 @ 12pm

WVEC-ABC13 (Norfolk) Sunday 3/23 @ 9am

Ayden Wilkins is a young boy who’s had it hard from the start. Born premature and weighing only 1.5 pounds, Ayden spent a majority of his first year in the hospital under intensive care. Because of his under developed heart, Ayden breaths with the help of a tracheotomy. Little Ayden doesn’t just rely on tubes for oxygen; he uses them to eat as well. Standing over his crib and watching his mother, Christina, stroke his cheek and check his various monitors is a heart breaking experience. “He sleeps like an angel” Christina said as she pulled a blanket over his tiny legs.

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After Ayden’s birth, it was a struggle for Christina to bring him home. The family patiently waited as medical complications continued to delay Ayden’s return.  Christina finally got the call and was told Ayden could be discharged; unfortunately the joy from the good news would be short lived. The Wilkins family home was having issues with their HVAC system and Virginia was seeing some of its highest temperatures in decades.  Because of Ayden’s condition, the hospital could not discharge him to a home without adequate ventilation, heating and cooling. The Wilkins family, who was still trying to get out from under the mountain of medical bills, couldn’t possibly afford the thousands it would cost to replace the family’s HVAC system and portions of the duct work. Christina began to pray that someone would help the family bring their son home.

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Her prayers were answered when a family friend wrote a letter to The Michael & Son Cares Program. Michael & Son Services, an Alexandria V.A. based home improvement company with an office in Richmond, helps families facing hardships with home repairs they cannot afford. When Proud Son and Owner of Michael & Son Services, Basim Mansour, read the letter he immediately contacted his Richmond team and started working on a plan to help the family. “When I read the letter regarding Ayden there was no question about; we would whatever was necessary to give Ayden a safe and healthy home” said Mansour.  The Michael & Son Cares Team provided the family with a new HVAC unit, duct work and some electrical repairs.

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The Michael & Son Cares Program continues to assist families in D.C., M.D. and N.C. If you or someone you know is currently facing a hardship and cannot afford home repairs, contact the Michael & Son Cares Program at http://www.michaelandsonhelpinghands.com/

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Back to Triangle

March 14, 2014
Michael & Son
2 Comments

 SHOW TIMES:

WRC-NBC4 (Washington DC) Saturday 3/15 @ 10:00am

WTVR-CBS6 (Richmond) Sunday 3/16 @ 11:35pm

WVIR-NBC29 (Charlottesville) Sunday 3/16 @ 12pm

WVEC-ABC13 (Norfolk) Sunday 3/9 @ 9am

If you drive from the suburbs of D.C. and down through Northern Virginia, you’d hardly see any signs of the financial crisis that swept through the country. From the Mc Mansions of Fairfax and Arlington to the sprawling estates of Clifton; Northern Virginia has some of the wealthiest communities in the country. While there are many within those communities who are struggling, you could never tell from a glance. There is one place, however, that stands out among the upper class communities; Triangle. Over the last several years, Triangle, Virginia has become a virtual ghost town. Boarded up businesses and foreclosed homes fill the landscape of an area that was once a thriving part of Northern Virginia.

Just off the freeway in a dilapidated home lives a single mother named Mary and her son, Elias. Mary had to give up working to care for Elias who suffers from Spina bifida. Requiring, 24 hour care, Elias is confined to a wheel chair and unable to speak. That leaves his mother responsible for literally every single daily activity; from taking showers to brushing his teeth. Because of her inability to work, Mary could not afford the much needed repairs to her home. The list of repairs was a long one; a new roof, HVAC system and the most daunting of them all, repairs to the foundation. She had reached out to many different organizations for help but the scope and size of the job was always more than they could handle.

One Saturday morning, Mary had a rare opportunity to relax and watch TV. She caught an episode of Helping Hands and decided to send a letter requesting assistance. “When I saw the Helping Hands, I was amazed by the things Michael & Son was doing in the community” said Mary. “I just had this feeling that this was the answer” continued Mary. She was right, just days after her letter was sent the repairs on her home were underway. With the help of other local businesses, the family received all the repairs to their home at no cost.

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Basim spending time with Elias, one of the recipients of the Michael & Son Cares Program

If you or someone you know is currently facing a hardship and is unable to afford home repairs, please contact the Michael & Son Cares Team. Michael & Son Services established their “Cares” charitable campaign in 2010 providing essential home services to local families in need.  To date, the program has assisted over 20 families in the area.  They are also proud sponsors and supporters of Dreams for kids, Saltwater Soldiers and Susan G. Komen. Michael & Son Services has been serving the greater DC metropolitan area for over 30 years with electrical, plumbing, heating, A/C, construction and handyman services. Our motto has always been, “If you can’t, we can!”  Check us out at www.michaelandson.com.

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Saying goodbye

 

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Basim posing for a picture with homeowner Mary Lloyd

 

Watch Helping Hands on NBC4

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The Cares Program – Warming Hearts & Homes

March 6, 2014
Michael & Son
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Deep in the heart of Redskins territory, a Philadelphia Eagles fan named Brandon sits in his wheelchair shivering, despite the two Kerosene heaters clunking away in opposite corners of the room. The heaters give off more fumes than warmth and with every labored breath he chokes and coughs. His mother Dawn sits on his bed wringing her hands and agonizing at the sight of her son. She is unable to help him as their oil furnace stopped working at the onset of winter. Brandon suffers from Muscular Dystrophy and the extreme temperatures caused by the lack of a HVAC system wrecked havoc on his condition.

 

They had payed a few fly by night repairmen who got the system running but only for a few days. One day while watching TV, Dawn saw a program called “Helping Hands; A local home improvement company was helping families with home repairs, families just like hers. Although she did not expect results, she decided to send an email to The Michael & Son Cares Program. She had been let down by so many before; from the not for profit organizations to Social Services. That’s why Dawn was shocked when she later found out she had been approved and would be receiving a brand new heating and cooling system, courtesy of Michael & Son Services.

 

When Proud Son & Owner of Michael & Son Services Basim Mansour met Brandon, he promised to come back with a surprise. “When I spoke to Brandon I asked what he’s always wanted, he me told an autographed Mike Vick helmet” said Mansour. The next time they would meet, Basim would carry a white box containing that very helmet. “I made a few calls and a couple days later I had the helmet in my hands” Brandon’s mother would never forget the look on his face when he opened the box. “I’d never seen him smile like that” said Dawn “Michael & Son really made all our dreams come true” she continued.

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The Michael & Son Cares Program continues to assist families in the D.C., M.D. and N.C. If you or someone you know is currently facing a hardship and cannot afford home repairs, contact the Michael & Son Cares Program. Check the list below for air dates and times in your area!

 

WRC-NBC4 in Washington DC

 Saturday 3/8 @ 10:00am

 

WTVR-CBS6 in Richmond

Sunday 3/9 @ 11:35pm
WVIR-NBC29 in Charlottesville

Sunday 3/9 @ 12pm

 

WVEC-ABC13 in Norfolk

Sunday 3/9 @ 9am

 

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